LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Nearly half of adults with food allergies have not been prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector (EAI) by their physician, according to survey results presented here at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) 2022 Annual Meeting.
Only 1 in 4 adults with food allergies say they have access to an EAI. Epinephrine is the only treatment that can halt anaphylaxis and reduce the risk of negative effects associated with food allergies.
The use of EAIs is therefore critical for people with severe food allergies. However, the new research suggests that many adults with these allergies have problems accessing or using this potentially lifesaving treatment.
"Lack of understanding about how to utilize the device as well as fear of the large needle are two contributing factors to low EAI use," said study author Jenna Yost, MS, of the nonprofit organization Food Allergy Research and Education, in an email to Medscape Medical News.
The study by Yost and colleagues was based on an online survey of 1006 adults with food allergies. The survey was developed under a collaborative effort that included patient advocacy groups, physicians, caregivers, and survey methodologists.
Only 52% of those who completed the survey said they had ever been prescribed an EAI.
